Williams Street closed for repairs
BRATTLEBORO - The Department of Public Works said Williams Street will be closed for about two weeks to repair the deck of the bridge between West Street and Whetstone Drive.
Residents within the closure will have access to their homes. Through traffic, including pedestrians and bicyclists, will need to seek alternate routes during the closure.
For more information, contact Highway and Utilities Superintendent Hannah Tyler at 802-254-4255 or htyler@brattleboro.org.
State Police to step up traffic enforcement for Labor Day weekend
WESTMINSTER - Vermont State Police from the Westminster Barracks, in conjunction with local and county law enforcement, will increase their efforts in sobriety and safety enforcement during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
As of Aug. 14, there have been 40 fatalities in Vermont in motor vehicle crashes. State police say they will use the holiday weekend as an opportunity to employ high-visibility enforcement to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and crashes around the state.
In addition to checkpoints, state police say they will be aggressively patrolling and enforcing motor vehicle laws with specific regard to impaired, distracted/aggressive driving, speeding, and seat belt usage in high crash areas.
Recent crash data can be found at ghsp.vermont.gov.
Talk will address climate change and its effects on wildlife
WILMINGTON - On Thursday, Aug. 31, Sue Morse of Keeping Track will present “Animals of the North: What Will Global Climate Change Mean for Them?” at Memorial Hall at 7 p.m.
Morse has spent more than three decades researching wildlife. When not in the field conducting research, leading training programs, or photographing wildlife, she can often be found presenting her findings and award-winning images to a wide range of audiences, including the general public, conservation leaders, and students of all ages.
This program is designed to educate audiences about ways in which northern wildlife species are already being affected by climate change, with more serious challenges ahead. Canada lynx, moose, American marten, caribou, polar bear, arctic fox, and arctic marine mammals and waterfowl are some of the species covered in this stunningly beautiful show.
Organizers of the talk say they promise not to overwhelm the audience with bad news. Instead, they will devote equal time to sharing remarkable images and stories about plants and animals in their northern habitats - all in the spirit of Jane Goodall's “reason for hope.” The intent is to inspire attendees young and old to “join the vital crusade to change our fossil fuel-burning ways, conserve natural resources, and share a healthy planet with all that lives.”
Along with Pettee Memorial Library, this presentation is being co-hosted by the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum. This program is free and open to the public, but donations to Pettee Memorial Library are always welcome. For more information, contact Allison Maynard at 802-464-8557 or www.petteelibrary.org.
Meditative 'Vigil of Lovingkindness' at Wells Fountain
BRATTLEBORO - Under a banner that reads “May All Beings Be Free of Pain and Suffering, May All Beings Know Peace and Happiness,” Post Oil Solutions is organizing a series of silent vigils to encourage progress toward what it calls “the loving, compassionate society we are seeking.”
This Vigil of Lovingkindness will be held on Friday, Sept. 1, from 5 to 6 p.m., at Wells Fountain, at the corner of Linden Street and Putney Road.
“Although silent, the vigil is intended to remind everyone that, as important as it is to resist the pain and suffering that human beings inflict on one another, it is equally important to create a caring alternative,” organizers explain.
Participants may attend for as long as they choose, and should bring a chair, cushion, or mat.
For further information, contact bereal@vermontel.net or call 802-869-2141.
Pancake breakfast benefits Firefighters' Association
WEST BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Firefighters' Benefit Association serves up its annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 3, from 7 to 11 a.m., at the West Brattleboro Fire Station on Western Avenue.
The cost is $6 for adults, $4 for children. For more information, call 802-254-4831.
The Art of the Essay: A writing workshop with Elayne Clift at Putney Library
PUTNEY - Join author and Commons columnist Elayne Clift for a free writing workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., at Putney Public Library, 55 Main St.
This workshop explores what an essay is and why we write them. It includes the necessary elements of writing good creative nonfiction pieces that can range from political commentary to humorous first-person accounts - and anything else based on truth or opinion.
Participants will explore tone and voice, style, structure, point of view, use of dialogue, researching facts, and more. This will be a hands-on workshop, where participants will write a practice piece to share and discuss (voluntarily) in the spirit of mutual learning. Clift invites participants to “come prepared to ruminate, rant, and reflect.”
This workshop is presented in partnership with The Commons through its Media Mentoring Project.
Brattleboro Area Hospice hosts benefit raffle
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Area Hospice is hosting a Win/Win Raffle beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, featuring a $1,000 gift card to the Brattleboro Food Co-op as first prize.
Second, third, and fourth prizes include an original Petria Mitchell painting, a Boston townhouse weekend with a picnic dinner for the road, and a local night out with dinner at Duo and Latchis tickets for two.
Proceeds from the raffle will support Brattleboro Area Hospice services, which are delivered free of charge to all members of the community.
Tickets may be purchased in person or online and are available for $25 or 3 for $50. Tickets will be on sale at the Brattleboro Area Hospice office at 191 Canal Street in Brattleboro and at Experienced Goods Thrift Shop at 77 Flat St., beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5.
A special preview sale will take place in the Brattleboro Food Co-op lobby on Saturday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.brattleborohospice.org and clicking on the link.
The drawing will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Winners will be notified by phone.
Senior Center hosts flu shot clinic
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Senior Center will host a pharmacist at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St., to administer flu shots for interested seniors on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
It's not unusual for new flu viruses to appear annually, which is why the flu vaccine is reformulated each year to keep up with the flu viruses as they change. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, which has been shown to deliver an increased immune response, is approved for anyone over age 65 and covered by Medicare Part B. Participants should bring insurance/Medicare cards. Call the Senior Center at 802-257-7570 with questions.
Chess class for youth
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department announced a new session of an intermediate chess class beginning Friday, Sept. 8. The cost of the eight-week program is $35 for residents and $50 for nonresidents.
This class will be held on Fridays at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main Street, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Chess helps children develop problem-solving skills and increase attention spans. The improved ability to focus and concentrate gained from playing chess often transfers to academics.
Instruction will introduce basic principles of chess, along with simple strategies and tactics, and provide a venue for practice games. Eric Strickland will be the instructor. This session is for players who know the basic checkmates, and at least a few tactics and strategies. For more information, call the Recreation & Parks Office at 802-254-5808.
Grace Cottage wants your tomatoes
TOWNSHEND - If you have more tomatoes than you need this year, consider donating some to the “Ton of Tomatoes” project, which is bringing local, nutritious food to area residents by collecting tomatoes during the growing season, processing and freezing them, and distributing them throughout the year via the Townshend Food Shelf.
Participants can drop off tomatoes (nearly ripe is best) at the following locations and times: Main reception desk, Grace Cottage Family Health, 185 Grafton Rd., Townshend, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or West Townshend Country Store, Route 30, West Townshend, daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Organizers ask that participants provide their names, so they can be thanked.
“Ton of Tomatoes” is a collaborative project of Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital, the West River Community Project, and the Townshend Community Food Shelf, with support from the Vermont Food Bank. These groups are collecting, processing, storing, and distributing the tomatoes, and they are already well on their way to the goal of one ton.
For more information, contact Grace Cottage Community Health Team member Bill Monahan at wmonahan@gracecottage.org or 802-365-3761.